Leafs

Explain

Ever since Ekblad started having concussion issues, he has not been the same player. He's a second pairing D getting paid 7.5M

McElhinney says no. I don't see him returning to Leafs since they just waived him a year ago.

With that salary even less.

He was fine last year

We must not have been watching the same player.

The Leafs absolutely say no. Ekblad has not been great last few years and if teams are reported as being interested to sign Mitch to an offer sheet, then the value is 4 first round picks which is > Ekblad. They could take the 4 firsts and flip those for help on the Def side and get more total value back.

Vancouver...

This is very difficult
I think Marner is the better player.
Then again, Ekblad plays a much, much, much more important position.
Then again, Marner doesn't have the injury history that Ekblad does.
At the same time, Marner is going to get 4 million more or whatever it winds up being.

very very tricky.

He played 82 games both last and the before 38 and 37 points isn’t that great I’ll admit but come on it’s florida they don’t exactly have the offence the leafs have he’s be better with us imo

LA doesn't have a need in goal. They have an embarrassment of riches in goal with two excellent NHL ready goaltenders in the pipeline behind Quick. The big problem is after the season he just had, Quick's contract will be difficult to move, so there's not room to put both Campbell and Petersen on the NHL roster.

It's not about his points. He just looks a step behind the play, at times a defensive liability, and a turnover machine.

Don't get me wrong, he's still a good NHL Defensemen and obviously belongs in the league. But he was projected to be an Elite #1 Defensemen and in his first 3 years in the league, he was an absolute STUD. But hasn't been that player since he got his conkies. In other words, he was a better player has an 18 and 19-year-old than he his now.